Description and characteristics of the Avalon daffodil variety, planting and care instructions

The most coveted primrose in the flowerbeds of Russian gardeners is the daffodil. Numerous varieties developed over decades by breeders around the world offer the perfect flower for each region's climate and the tastes of each gardener. The Avalon daffodil makes a beautiful addition to any flowerbed and looks beautiful paired with other primroses, especially snowdrops.

Selection and description of the Avalon variety

The exact date of the cultivar's development is unknown, nor is the name of the breeder responsible for creating the Avalon daffodil. The flower belongs to the Dutch daffodil group, characterized by a large crown.

Avalon's height, no more than 35 cm, makes it suitable for growing not only outdoors but also on balconies, loggias, and windowsills. This daffodil variety is ideal for cutting and forcing indoors. It prefers sunny locations with some afternoon shade. This variety is highly winter-hardy, so there's no need to dig up the bulbs and store them in a basement until spring; providing a shelter is sufficient.

With regular preventative maintenance and adherence to agricultural care rules, narcissus is rarely affected by diseases; the variety is characterized by strong immunity.

Features of flowering

The Avalon daffodil variety is considered by gardeners to be one of the best mid-flowering varieties. The first buds appear in late April (in southern regions) or early May (in temperate climates). Each stem bears a single medium-sized bud—up to 10 cm in diameter.

The Avalon daffodil's petals are a rich lemon color, while the crown is white. It is large, cylindrical, and ruffled along the edges. The plant's scent is light, pleasant, and unobtrusive, so it doesn't cause dizziness.

Examples of use in garden design

The Avalon daffodil, thanks to its low maintenance and decorative qualities, is often used to decorate gardens by both amateur gardeners and landscape designers. It lends itself to vibrant compositions with other primroses and becomes a striking accent in flowerbeds. Narcissus is planted under trees, grown in containers, and used to decorate rock gardens and mixed borders. It is also grown in flowerbeds in apartment courtyards.

The Avalon daffodil looks unique when planted in a wavy ribbon alongside crocuses and fritillaries. If there's no available space near the house, place the flower in a deep pot, which is removed after flowering. When planting daffodils, it's best to combine them with late-blooming plants to prevent the flowerbed from appearing empty.

Specifics of growing flowers

Growing the Avalon daffodil is easy, even for inexperienced gardeners. All the plant needs to thrive and produce beautiful buds is a suitable location, watering, nutrient supplementation, and disease and pest control.

Preparatory stage

The first step is selecting and preparing the site. A flat area with some afternoon shade is preferable for growing daffodils. If the flowers are planted in the shade, the buds will be small, and the plant itself will be stunted. It's important to note that this variety of daffodils does not tolerate drafts and cold winds, which will spoil the flower's decorative appearance.

Low-lying areas where moisture stagnates after the spring snowmelt are also not suitable for growing; this will lead to rotting of the bulbs and the development of fungal diseases.

The soil where the daffodils will be planted should preferably be loamy and neutral. Heavy or sandy soils are not suitable for growing flowers. Prepare the soil in June by digging it to a depth of 30 cm and removing weeds. If necessary, add wood ash and nutrients if the soil in the flowerbed is poor.

Purchased bulbs also need to be prepared before planting. To prevent fungal diseases, soak them in any fungicide for 30 minutes. Experienced gardeners recommend using Maxim for this purpose.

Timing and schemes for planting bulbs

It's recommended to begin planting daffodil bulbs in late summer. This will allow the bulbs time to take root and establish themselves in their new location, ensuring a successful overwintering. However, it's important to remember to complete the work a month before the first significant cold snap.

The process of planting bulbs is carried out according to the following algorithm:

1. Leave at least 25 cm between rows and make holes every 15 cm. If daffodils are planted too densely, the bulbs will be crowded and the daffodils will not develop well.
2. A small layer of river sand is poured into the bottom of each hole, which will act as drainage and prevent excess moisture from accumulating around the bulbs.
3. The material is planted at a depth of 15 cm and sprinkled on top with the remaining fertile soil.
4. Water the planted flowers generously and, if desired, mulch the beds.

Watering and fertilizing

The frequency of watering daffodils depends on the growing region. In southern regions with hot summers, during bud formation and flowering, plants require generous weekly watering. This is achieved by using 20 liters of warm water per square meter of planting. In northern regions with cold summers, excess moisture can lead to the development of fungal diseases, so watering is only necessary if there has been no rain for a long period.

Without fertilizing, it's impossible to grow highly decorative flowers. Fertilize daffodils according to the following schedule:

1. The first time for feeding, use a complete mineral fertilizer, adding it as soon as the first shoots appear.
2. The second time, daffodils are fertilized with the same composition during the period of bud formation.
3. Fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus are necessary for plants after the flowering period.

It is strictly forbidden to use fresh manure to feed flowers; it will burn the bulbs and may also contain pathogens that can cause dangerous diseases.

Weeding and loosening

Weeding and loosening the soil around the daffodils is only necessary if there's no mulch layer around the flowers. In this case, simply changing it once a month is sufficient. If there's no mulch, loosen the soil around the daffodils after each watering or rainfall, but do so carefully to avoid damaging the bulbs. Weeds are also removed simultaneously to prevent them from robbing the plants of nutrients.

Trimming

After wilting, the buds are immediately cut off to prevent them from spoiling the flowerbed's decorative appearance. The foliage and flower stalks are trimmed closer to autumn, leaving a stump 5-7 cm above the soil surface.

Protection from insects and diseases

The best way to combat diseases and insect pests is to preventatively treat bulbs with fungicides before planting. If daffodils are affected by viral diseases, the flowers are immediately dug up and destroyed outside the plot to prevent them from infecting other crops. Insects are controlled with insecticidal acaricides, such as Actara or Actellic.

Preparing for winter

The most important step in preparing for winter is renewing the mulch layer. If winters in the region are cold, add additional dry leaves and wood shavings.

Reproduction methods

The only method for propagating the Avalon variety available to amateur gardeners is separating small bulblets from the main plant and planting them in separate plots. Seed propagation is not used, as there is no guarantee that the parent plant's characteristics will be preserved.

Gardeners' reviews of the variety

Polina Grigoryevna Lobacheva, 49: "I've been growing the Avalon variety in my garden for three years now. Before planting, I treated the bulbs with Maxim, so the flowers don't get sick."

Lidiya Aleksandrovna Dmitrenko, 38 years old: “I really like this variety of daffodils; they are easy to care for and bloom very beautifully.”